The Michigan student body raise their hands and signal a three point shot during first half action of the Michigan and South Dakota State game March 21, 2013. / Diane Weiss / DFP

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Associated Press

NEW YORK ó The NCAA tournamentís first full day has earned its highest preliminary television rating in 22 years.

The games Thursday on CBS, TBS, TNT and truTV averaged a 5.8 overnight rating and 14 share. The networks say that was up 4 percent from 2012.

From the CBS release:

• The first telecast window of the day (including Michigan State-Valparaiso) combined to earn a 4.0/13, +14% vs. last yearís 3.5/13.

• The second telecast window of the day combined to earn a 5.1/13, +6% vs. last yearís 4.8/13.

• The third telecast window of the day (including Michigan-South Dakota State) combined to earn a 7.1/12, +11% vs. last yearís 6.4/12.

• The fourth telecast window of the day combined to earn a 5.9/11, vs. last yearís 6.4/12.

This is the third season of CBS and Turnerís 14-year, $10.8 billion contract to televise every game of the tournament in its entirety, a change in approach that so far has been a ratings success. Ratings represent the percentage of all homes with televisions tuned to a program.

Shares represent the percentage of all homes with TVs in use at the time. Overnight ratings measure the countryís largest markets.

CBS contributed.

Join special writer Nick Meyer for a live blog of the Michigan-VCU NCAA tournament game Saturday afternoon at freep.com/sports.

Join special writer Nick Meyer for a live blog of the MSU-Memphis NCAA tournament game Saturday afternoon at freep.com/sports.